The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-01-12

they have any manhood and a ope
sense of resentment; if they are not The
dogs they are taken for, they will, whom
tho time comes, see to it that the men
Who thus contemptuously put this in
dignity upon them are properly reward
ed. Ii we cannot ~reorganize the aeri-
cultural department, we can rcorganizc
tho Senate. Tho farmers of The State
are fast Siuking to the level of scrfs-
hcwers OF wood n drawers of water for
others. An efficient and representative
bonrd OF agriculture, together with an
agricultural college to act as pioneer in
mapping out the new system of farming
we are compelled to pursue ere we can
expect any change for tho better, could
DO much TO aid and assist them to re-
cover their lost prosperity. But these
SIX agricultural Solons and their fifteen
professional associates say to them in
effect: "You don't know what You want.
we Will continue to tax you to support a
department of agriculture which you do
not feel is beneficial to your interests as
now conducted, because VIC like it. We
viii vote your money to support the
South Carolina College and Citadel be-
cause We think those schools arc n we
need; but your Agricultural College is Il
humbug. We know it. Wisdom will
die with us So we will not even spend
your W money to investigate the mat
ter and let IL commission report SO we
can act intelligently."
1T may be said the farmers in the Sen
ate were divided, rs they were six for
and six against the bill. Then if the
professional men in the Senate had
needed light rs to the wishes OF the
farmers of the State, if the actions of
two farmers convention had no weight,
the almost unanimous vote by which the
bill passed the House, composed largely
OF farmers, should have made them hest
tate to postpone it.
But l have my own opinion rs to how
this thing was brought about. [ visited
Columbia three times during tile recent
session of the Legislature. [ kept my
eyes and ears open. | learned a great
deal that would be of value to the peo-
pie II l had time to tell it, and [ will,
when occasion offers, let out some of the
true lnWnrdncss" of what | saw and
learned. could tell why and how the
hopes of the people as regards reforms
aud reduction of expenditures, Nc., re-
suited only i'll the cutting off of II beg
carly thousand dollars-thc Lieutenant
Governors salary. | could show that
once an abuse is planted and takes root
IN South Carolina it is harder than nut
grass to get rid of. But just now / will
only give my belief as to why the Senate
postponed the bill To rcorganiZc the
agricultural department. Or course
some of the Senators voted against it
because of their resentment against
"Illmnn dictation,' for Mr.. Gonzales
Sn v - Gn. nm Nnfa,J 4., 80 1,,-I H.
cause they never vote against ono of the
Senators from Charleston, SO | am told;
others voted against ii because | am
credited with having had much to do
with the slaughter of the Columbia
Canal and the Ring wanted revenge,
though, to tell the truth, l am totally
innocent in that matter. Some voted
against it because farmers and farmers
movements" stink i'll their nostlils. But
the real cause, though many Senators
do not know it perhaps, is that the
phosphate interests Of the State are con
trolcd by the department of agriculture,
and the CooStw Mining Comply is too
well satisfied with the present manage
mcnt Of that interest to allow Il change
If it could prevent it!
Why II board of agriculture should
have anything to do with collecting
mining royalty, farmers Of ordinary in
telllgencc cannot understand. We do
not see the connection between the two,
but perhaps some of those who started
tins thing, and some Of those who keep
1t up, can give us light. This board OF
agriculture, which is liked so well, has
spent $4,000 since its creation in 1880,
and We would like some one to tell us
what benefit it has been to us farmers,
who pay for it alone. Will some Senator,
''agriculturalist" or otherwise, answer?
Or will some member OF the board tell
us? b. Il. IILLMAN.
Ropcr's, 5. c., January l, 1887.